Blues 2019

Nogusta

@stargazer Not too sure. Was sitting near his mum on Saturday who mentioned.

Daffy Jaffy

So far with 3 squads named the blues region has got away lightly only loosing Rayasi and Manu to other franchises, and probably Whetton to the Highlanders.

Duluth

Blues Rugby

The official home of the Blues rugby team. Buy tickets and merchandise, get the latest news, view results and go behind-the-scenes with our players.

Front row: Leni Apisai, Alex Hodgman, Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Sione Mafileo, Matt Moulds, James Parsons, Marcel Renata, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tu’ungafasi,

Locks: Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Josh Goodhue, Jacob Pierce, Scott Scrafton, Patrick Tuipulotu.

Loose forwards: Jed Brown, Blake Gibson, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Tom Robinson, Hoskins Sotutu, Jimmy Tupou.

Halfbacks: Sam Nock, Augustine Pulu, Jonathan Ruru.

First-five: Otere Black, Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer

Midfield: Levi Aumua, TJ Faiane, Ma’a Nonu, Tanielu Tele’a, Sonny Bill Williams.

Outside Backs: Caleb Clarke, Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, Melani Nanai, Jordan Trainor

Out: Bryn Gatland (Highlanders), Jerome Kaino (Toulouse), Pauliasi Manu (Hino, Japan), George Moala (Clement Auvergne), Glenn Preston, Kara Pryor, Isaac Salmon, Mike Tamoaieta, Murphy Taramai, Dan Kirkpatrick, Matt Johnson.

In: (Karl Tu’inukuafe (Chiefs), Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Blues Development – Auckland), Jacob Pierce (Blues Development – North Harbour), Ma’a Nonu (Toulon), Marcel Renata (Hurricanes), Hoskins Sotutu (Blues Development – Auckland), Harry Plummer (Blues Development – Auckland), Tanielu Tele’a (Blues Development – Auckland), Tom Robinson (Northland), Jed Brown ( Ta$man), Levi Aumua ( Ta$man).

Unavailable for selection: Tamati Tua (injury), Sione Havili (injury), Scott Gregory (Sevens/U20s).

Tim

No Olmsted or Abel. Jacob Pierce was 4th choice at Harbour this year - incredibly lucky.

Don't rate Aumua at all. Losing Manu a massive blow. Talea not ready for this level.

Could've done with Rayasi. Collins a waste of space.

Problems at hooker, halfback, centre, and no clear choice at fullback. No backup 8 with any experience.

Not a good squad.

Bovidae

The Blues could pick a large, bruising midfield lacking pace.

Coventry didn't show any love to his NH boys.

Duluth

On a positive note, the Blues Dev team will be good

African Monkey

Tu'inukuafe
Parsons (more because of a lack of options)
Tu'ungafasi
Tuipulotu
Goodhue
Papali'i
Gibson
A Ioane
Pulu (like Parsons a lack of options and a Tana favourite)
Black
R Ioane
SBW
Aumua
Nanai (Will probably be Duffie)
Anyone but Collins but it will be him
Moulds
Hodgman
Mafileo/Renata
Brown
Robinson/Sotutu but will be Tupou
Ruru
Perofeta
Nonu

Tim

Only things I'm happy about are the props.

Really haven't improved over last year. Still no centre, no new kicking options in midfield or the back three from exits, no class at halfback, very average hookers. Ioane only decent centre option, which will leave wings lacking power.

Gutted for Olmstead. Pierce over Whetton ...

Machpants

So Scott Gregory is unavailable for Blues (U20/7s), and unavailable for U20s (SR/7s) - he's in the 7s team???

KiwiMurph

@tim pretty good summary.

On the positive side I'm glad Trainor made it and i'm pleased with Lindenmuth and Renata.

Way too many average players - namely Apisai, Collins, Nock, Pulu, all 3 hookers.

Tana to get fired - hopefully Hanks and the CEO too. Squad cleanout to occur for next year.

African Monkey

@tim Yeah things don't look like changing. Poor recruitment has fucked us (again).

MacDonald and Coventry have a massive task ahead of them.

KiwiMurph

Some more interesting notes - Rieko to play on the wing and Harry Plummer is heading over to London for a few weeks to work with Nick Evans and Harlequins.

Tim

Best team they could put on the park:

Tu'inukuafe

Parsons

Tu'ungafasi

Tuipulotu

Scrafton

Papali'i

Gibson

A Ioane

Pulu

Black

Clarke

SBW

R Ioane

Nanai

Trainor

Moulds

Hodgman

Mafileo/Renata

Goodhue/Cowley-Tuioti

Robinson/Sotutu

Ruru

Perofeta

Nonu

Tim

@kiwimurph I probably won't bother watching unless they win early matches.

Hooroo

How come Ioane won't be on the wing? Surely Nonu and SBW midfield?

KiwiMurph

@hooroo Rieko will be on the wing. Tana said it himself today.

Tim

@hooroo He will play on the wing. SBW and Nonu would be a very slow midfield.

I have zero enthusiasm for Nonu.

Aumua is a fucking joke selection. I'm not laughing though.

African Monkey

@kiwimurph He's just having us on. We all know he's gonna try and sneak him back in at 12 once our geriatrics Nonu and SBW break down.

Steven Harris

Unfortunately the Blues still looking the weakest of all the squads,and the biggest thing that stands out is intellect..
This is one of the vagaries of signing guys for 2 x years,if they don’t perform in their first year ,then you are stuck with them for the 2nd year..Leni Apaisi comes to mind,why Micheal Collins was re signed is beyond me ..
Who’s gonna lead this team..?,and I don’t see smarts from August Pulu..
Feel incredibly sorry for Evan Olmstead,but there will be injuries, you only have to mention the Karl Tunukuafe story to realise what can happen if the opportunity arises..

Daffy Jaffy

@steven-harris The Sunwolves should be on the phone as we speak to Olmstead and Abel!

The Silver Fern

Blues 2019

Blues Rugby